PFAS Chemicals: What Are They and Where Are They Found?
EPA has announced its first ever comprehensive nationwide Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan.
PFAS chemicals—“forever chemicals”—are everywhere. They’re in your firefighting foam, industrial coatings, food packaging, textiles, and drinking water. They persist in the environment indefinitely and accumulate in human blood at dangerous levels.
⚡ TL;DR: PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are man-made chemicals used in 1,000+ industrial and consumer applications. They don’t break down—hence “forever chemicals.” EPA is moving toward federal regulation; 8+ states have already adopted PFAS bills. If your facility manufactures, processes, or uses PFAS-containing materials (AFFF, coatings, plastics), state regulations may already apply to you.
EPA has announced its first ever comprehensive nationwide Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan. This action plan attempts to address two of the most common PFAS chemicals; PFOA and PFOS. Despite having called this press conference, no definitive regulations have yet been set in place.
⚠️ Why This Matters Now: Some frustrated state regulatory agencies have decided to move on without EPA—fear that federal regulations may take 10 years or more to materialize. So far, 8 states have adopted bills regarding PFAS chemicals and others are determining compliance pathways. Because regulations may emerge on the state level before federal action, facilities in regulated states face imminent compliance deadlines. In seminars and conferences, PFAS has been mentioned as potentially “the new asbestos” in terms of prevalence and liability exposure.
So What Are PFAS Chemicals?
Simply put, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of man-made chemicals that are widely used in industrial processes and can be found in many consumer products. They are split into two groups: Polymers and Non-polymers.
To be a bit more specific, PFAS chemicals are chains of carbon atoms that are bonded by fluorine atoms. The chemistry is very complex, which is what allows for there to be thousands upon thousands of variations existing in commerce today.
Where Can PFAS Be Found?
It would almost be easier to say where they aren’t found! PFAS chemicals can be found anywhere; in pizza boxes, cookware, paints, polishes, electronics manufacturing, fuel additive, and more! There are even cases of the direct release of PFAS products into the environment. The use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for fire fighting, chrome surfacing facilities, landfills, and wastewater treatment all contribute to the release of PFAS chemicals in the environment.
Some applications where PFAS-containing materials are used include:
Water and stain resistance in textile and paper coating Plastics manufacturing Reducing surface tension in surface coatings Stabilizing agents for metal finishing and electroplating Industrial rinse agents Solder wetting agents and coatings in semiconductors Cable and wiring manufacturing Building and construction Anywhere that uses fire fighting foams (military, oil refineries, manufacturing, airfields) Recovery in metal mining and oil extraction
Why Is It Important?
Some PFAS chemicals are known to be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative in organisms, and toxic at relatively low levels. The fact that PFAS chemicals come in so many shapes and sizes and in so many industries and consumer products means that an alarmingly high percentage of people have been exposed to PFAS chemicals.
Contaminated drinking water is the best documented source of known human exposure pathways, but food, house dust, and workplace exposure are amongst the top as well. In communities with contaminated drinking water, human health effects include higher cholesterol, increased uric acid, lower birth weight, lower response to vaccines, diabetes, cancer, and more.
EPA’s ACTION PLAN
EPA’s Action Plan covers a number of different areas. However, most of these plans are in the development, research, and pre-regulatory phase. They are focusing efforts on developing rules and tools for Cleanup, Monitoring, Research, Communication, and Drinking Water.
For more information on PFAS chemicals, visit EPA’s PFAS data and tools website at https://www.epa.gov/pfas/epa-pfas-data-and-tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are PFAS chemicals and why are they a concern?
A: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used widely in industrial processes that are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative in organisms, and toxic at relatively low levels. With thousands of variations in commerce, PFAS contaminate drinking water, food, and workplace environments, creating human health risks including higher cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer in exposed populations.
Q: Where are PFAS chemicals found in industrial and consumer products?
A: PFAS chemicals are used in water and stain-resistant textiles, cookware coatings, pizza boxes, electronics manufacturing, paint production, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for firefighting, metal finishing and electroplating, semiconductor manufacturing, and building materials. They are also released directly into the environment from landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and chrome plating operations.
Q: Which states have adopted PFAS regulations ahead of federal EPA action?
A: As of the announcement of EPA’s Action Plan, 8 states had already adopted PFAS-related bills due to concerns that federal EPA regulations could take 10 years or more to develop. State-level regulations are emerging faster than federal action, making PFAS compliance increasingly important for facilities in regulated states.
Q: What is EPA’s PFAS Action Plan addressing?
A: EPA’s PFAS Action Plan focuses on developing rules and tools for Cleanup, Monitoring, Research, Communication, and Drinking Water standards. Most components are still in development and pre-regulatory phases, but EPA is actively researching PFOA and PFOS as priority chemicals requiring future regulation.
Q: What is the human health risk of PFAS contamination?
A: In communities with contaminated drinking water, documented health effects include higher cholesterol, increased uric acid, lower birth weight, reduced vaccine response, diabetes, and cancer. PFAS bioaccumulates in human blood and does not break down naturally. Even low-level chronic exposure poses measurable health risks to workers and communities near PFAS-using facilities.
💰 Liability Exposure: PFAS contamination of groundwater or surface water can trigger multi-million-dollar cleanup liability. If your facility uses AFFF for fire suppression or processes PFAS-containing materials and discharges to water, groundwater monitoring is essential. States are now holding manufacturers liable for environmental remediation—estimated costs can reach $50 million+ for contaminated sites.
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